The Alabama Military Hall of Honor in Marion has signed on as an official partner of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 9 million Americans served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the period of the Vietnam War; approximately 7 million are living today.

Nationwide, thousands of partner organizations at the local, state and national levels are conducting community-centric events that honor their service.

On Friday, Oct. 28, the Alabama Military Hall of Honor will host a Vietnam War 50th Commemoration at the City Hall museum on the Marion Military Institute (MMI) college campus.

Vietnam veterans, their families, current service members and veterans of all wars are invited to attend.

The Commemoration ceremony, which begins at 10:30 a.m., and parade are free and open to the public.

A special luncheon ($17) will then take place in the Ireland Athletic Center. Luncheon tickets must be pre-paid online at marionmilitary.edu or by calling (334) 683-2302.

The Alabama Military Hall of Honor was established in 1975 by Gov. George Wallace’s executive order No. 59. Since then, it has inducted 55 individuals and one unit, the Tuskegee Airmen. Of those inducted, 16 are Medal of Honor recipients and seven are MMI alumni.

An inscription on the bronze plaque recognizing the 2016 Commemoration will read as follows:

“We honor the more than 58,000 patriots — their names etched in a black granite wall in Washington, D.C. — who sacrificed all they had all they would ever know.

“We thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as Prisoners of War or listed as Missing in Action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States, and we thank and honor the families of these veterans.

“We highlight the service of the armed forces and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the armed forces during the Vietnam War.

“We pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War.

“We highlight the advances in technology, science and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War.

“We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.”

Persons knowing of someone, living or deceased, who should be considered for induction, should contact the Alabama Military Hall of Honor, 1101 Washington Street, Marion, AL, 36756; phone, (334) 683-2346 or email, almilhallofhonor@marionmilitary.edu.